MA’AN Development Center Nablus From Economic Metropolisp to Shrinkingg Cityy
January 2008 The Nablus old city has one OVERVIEW of the oldest souks (covered Nablus governorate central markets) in the West Bank. It is governorate of the northern one of the most important ci es West Bank, located 55 for trade, industry and educa on kilometres north of Jerusalem. in the occupied Pales nian territory (oPt). The city’s The governorate, which is the popula on is predominantly fourth largest in the West Bank, Muslim, with Chris an and following Hebron, Bethlehem, Samaritan minori es. and Ramallah governorates, There are 56 communi es in the extends over a total area of 2 governorate with an es mated 605km . popula on of 345,847 (PCBS mid-year popula on projec on The heart of the governorate, 2003), the popula on of Nablus Nablus city, is the largest city is about 137, 891, or 39.8% Pales nian city in the West of the total popula on in the Map (1): Nablus location map Bank. Its history dates back district. to ancient mes and it is men onedintheOldTestament On the outskirts of Nablus as the Canaanite city of city there are three large and Shekhem. Its present name densely populated refugee derives from the Roman city camps ‘Ein Beit el Ma (5,178 of Flavius Neapolis, which was inhabitants), ‘Askar (13,064 changed into its current Arabic inhabitants) and Balata (18,142 from Nablus in the 8th century. inhabitants).
General view of Nablus and its Old City from Al Tor Mountain
2 Nablus in History The city of Nablus was founded in 72 CE by the Romans. During the subsequent O oman rule, the city was named “Li le Damascus” and visitors to the town can s ll detect some of the strong pan-Arab roots on which this associa on is based. In the 19th century, the city became a major industrial center for olive oil and co on processing. The town’s historic old city includes nine historic mosques, 18 Islamic monuments, an Ayyubid mausoleum and a 17th-century church, as well as O oman-era palaces and Turkish baths.
Al Naser historic mosque Nablus has boasted 79% of the monotheis c religions. A small vegetable oil processing industry, community of Jewish Samaritans including soap produc on, which resides on Mount Gerezim, on the is centered in the old city. Another edge of Nablus. They are recognized important industry has been stone as an official minority and retain quarrying and processing, with 54 one quota seat on the Pales nian quarries (37% of all quarries) located Legisla ve Council. in the area alongside one-third of Pales nian stone-cu ng opera ons. The city is home to all three Informa on from Costs of Conflict, OCHA & Pales nian Chambers of Commerce
3 It’s Wednesday morning in the Nablus souk and business is slow. One week Nablus in Crisis before the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, the market should be humming with • Forced internal displacement ac vity. But last night, December 10, • Transfer of major markets and industries Israeli undercover forces entered the outside of Nablus town and killed a wanted Pales nian. • Unemployment Mosques earlier in the day announced • Destruc on and insecurity caused by Israeli a “haddad” or an unofficial commercial military raids strike. Most shops were open anyway, • Regional inaccessibility of basic services due but the shoppers were few. to encircling Israeli checkpoints “I’ve been here since the morning, and • Isola on of the city from its hinterlands this is my first sale today,” Yahia Ahmad caused by Israeli se lements and their Izzain, 58, said at 11 am, standing behind infrastructure a pile of burnished apples and oranges. A produce seller for decades in one of Nablus’ markets, he has watched the change in the city’s fortunes as it has transformed from the center of West Bank industry to a closed, shrinking city.
While the Nablus na ve used to go to Israel and Jericho himself to pick out produce for his stall, these days he can’t get an Israeli permit to cross the checkpoints and is forced to buy from a distributor in town at much higher cost. In any case, “people just don’t have money to buy these days,” he says.
Downtown Nablus on a day of “haddad”. The once-bustling streets are quiet One of Nablus’ vegetable markets on a slow day 4 C«»ÖÊ®ÄãÝ Ä BùÖÝÝ RÊÝ C«»ÖÊ®ÄãÝ Ä BùÖÝÝ RÊÝ
Nablus city, home to 137,891 people, and center for an es mated 345,847 people in Nablus governorate, is surrounded by no less than 106 permanent Israeli military checkpoints, seven of them just outside the city.1
Nablus is dis nct from other Pales nian ci es because all goods are required to pass through one of two special commercial checkpoints; ‘Awarta and Beit Iba through back-to-back process. At ‘Awarta crossing south of the city, a truck carries goods to one side and a special Back-to-back transfer of goods at Beit Iba checkpoint vehicle removes the products for a security check before they are transferred to another truck on the crossing’s other side. The same “Overall, it is es mated that Pales nians are process is observed for goods entering from restricted from some 41 sec ons of roads in the West the northwest at Artah crossing (also known Bank covering an approximate distance of 700 km. as at-Tayba), which is a gate in the Apartheid For the most part, the restricted roads are major north-south and east-west transport routes which Wall near Tulkarem. These goods are then only are now reserved for the movement of se lers or allowed to enter Nablus city through Beit Iba interna onals. Pales nian drivers and vehicles can 2 checkpoint. Delays, closures, and traffic jams apply for special permits to use these roads, but mar the free transport of food, clothes, and raw “flying checkpoints” (stop and search ac vi es in materials that are required for the survival of temporary loca ons) are rou nely in opera on and Nablus markets and factories. applied to most Pales nian vehicles (iden fied by green license plates rather than the yellow plates of “Imagine how long the process takes, how Israeli and se lement registered vehicles). Because much special security checking – because for the delays and other problems associated with the the Israelis any security checkpoint is sacred,” “flying checkpoints” add significant uncertainty, cost and risk to the transporta on of goods, they act as says Amjad Nimr of the Nablus Chamber of a further deterrent to Pales nian economic ac vity. Commerce. “Some mes the soldiers behave All non-permi ed Pales nian private and commercial badly, or the goods are ruined in the wait. traffic are forced onto smaller and less-maintained Some mes the goods go through checking two roads and circuitous routes. Moreover, most new or three mes.” roads constructed in the West Bank over the last several years have restricted use by Pales nians. In Pales nians cross Huwara on foot through a general, there are no formal wri en orders from the narrow turns le Military Commander of the West Bank regarding restric ons on road usage by Pales nians and according to the Interna onal Law Department of the IDF, military commanders have the right to restrict road usage for security purposes, and it is sufficient to issue such orders verbally.” - From Movement and Access Restric ons in the West Bank: Uncertainty and Inefficiency in the Pales nian Economy, World Bank, May 2007
1 The Humanitarian Impact…, OCHA, p. 90. 2 Interview with Amjad Nimr, Nablus Chamber of Commerce, Public Rela ons Department, December 11, 2007. 5 Table (1): Checkpoints outside Nablus City Checkpoint outside Route DescripƟon Nablus City Pedestrian crossing with narrow turns les, watch Southern entrance to towers, deten on rooms, electronic and x-ray Huwara Nablus city checks, gates for cars, permits required for entry and exit of cars Commercial crossing Back-to-back transfer of goods from trucks on each ‘Awarta south of Nablus city side, high-tech security checking Commercial and pedestrian crossing, trucks and Beit Iba Northwest of Nablus city cars require permit, limited hours Similar to Huwara but only for use by Beit Furik and Beit Furik East of Nablus city Beit Dajan residents Watch towers, gates for car passage, Nablus gate to Al Bathan East of Nablus city the Jordan valley Hamra East of Nablus city Similar to Huwara checkpoint East of Aqraba, leads to Car checking lanes, watch towers, passage allowed Ma’ale Efrayim northern West Bank and only for permit holders who are usually workers in Jordan valley Jordan valley Watch towers, car checking lanes, no pedestrians, South of Nablus city, Zaatara main gateway to and from northern governorates of a er Huwara Nablus, Tubas, Jenin, Tulkarem and Qalqilia West of Nablus city to Tayasir Like Ma’ale Efrayim checkpoint the Jordan valley Al-Juneid West of Nablus city Watchtowers, gateway to Qalqilia and Tulkarem
Source: OCHA, checkpoint list provided to Nablus governorate, unpublished data.
Pales nian vehicles at Huwara checkpoint 6 Checkpoints and other physical obstacles surrounding Nablus city
Map (2): From the Humanitarian Impact of Israeli Infrastructure the West Bank - OCHA - Decmber 2007
7 Sãã½ÃÄãÝ More North Established before SeƩlements March 2001 Ya’bad Jenin Established after Ä OçãÖÊÝãÝ Miokdonan Qabatia March 2001 (when Ariel Arrabeh Sharon took office as On January 7, 2008 Israel’s eleventh prime The flow of people is similarly the Israeli newspaper, minister) Tulkarm restricted. Fourteen Israeli Tubas Ha’aretz, published a Shaveh Shamron se lements and 26 outposts report on more than Nablus Bek’out Balata (se lements established without 100 new Israeli outposts Qalqilia Karneh Shamron Israeli government permits) Alfe Menasheh to be established Oranit Bidya Sh’ari Ariel surround the city of Nablus, Tekva Ma’ale in the West Bank. Salfit and the roads connec ng them According to Peace Ale Zahav Efrayim are considered off-limits to Now, about 50 outposts, 3 Pales nians. Special permits are accommoda ng 3,000 Modi’een Elite (Keryat Safar) required for vehicles to travel on se lers, have been Ramallah Giv’at Qalandia these roads. constructed since March Jericho 5 Z’eev 2001. Anata Mitzpe Yeriho Jerusalem Ma’ale In April 2007, only 10% of Nablus Al EzareyyaAdumim buses (22 out of 220) and 7% of The Ha’aretz map (3) Abu Dis Nablus taxis (150 out of 2,250) shows the planned Bitar Ellit Bethlehem had permits to access and use outposts in the West Efrat Bank. Note Nablus area Karmi Tsur the checkpoints around Nablus Halhul city. Only 50 private Pales nian on the map. Hebron Sea Dead The cars were permi ed to use the 4 checkpoints. Alterna ve roads Yatta are blocked by various obstacles Addahreyya placed by the Israeli military. Map (3): New Israeli outposts in the West Bank, 2008 Table (2): List of main seƩlements in Nablus governorate Main seƩlements in Nablus Year of Distance from the Green PopulaƟon governorate establishment Line (1967 border) Argaman 1968 166 23.7 Gilgal 1970 162 30.2 Maswa 1970 142 30 Ma’ale Efrayem 1970 1,384 43.7 Gi t 1973 214 37 Mekhora 1973 114 26.4 Pesta’el 1975 214 34.5 Ro’i 1976 128 15 Na v Hagidud 1976 125 29 Shavei Shomron 1977 606 13.3 Tomer 1978 282 31.2 Elon More 1979 1,314 22 km Shedmot Mehola 1979 536 3.4 Yafit 1980 104 36 Bracha 1983 1,182 23.2 km Migdalim 1983 142 32.7 Ma’ale Levona 1983 556 21.8 Yitzhar 1983 673 20.5 Eli 1984 2,420 23.7 km Itamar 1984 698 28 Revava 1991 827 12.3 Rotem 2001 18 5.9 Source: Peace Now, Se lement List - 2007
3 The Humanitarian Impact…,OCHA, July 2007, p. 90. 4 The Humanitarian Impact…, OCHA, p. 90. 5 Informa on: Ha’aretz and Peace Now – January 7, 2008 and Al Quds newspaper – January 8, 2008 8 EÊÄÊî Ä HçÃÄ RÝÊçÙ LÊÝÝÝ EÊÄÊî Ä HçÃÄ RÝÊçÙ LÊÝÝÝ These difficul es are compounded by the persistent state of insecurity in the town. Since the outbreak of the Pales nian uprising between Sept. 28, 2000 and Nov. 1, 2007, 635 Pales nians have been killed in Nablus governorate (474 killed in the city alone), and 10, 371 injured.9 Many of those killed were wage-earners. Closed stores in Al Yassamina neighborhood in the old city
Most of these casual es occurred during the Nablus City At A Glance ini al invasion of the city in April 2002, which lasted 21 days. Sixty-seven people were killed Nablus city residents killed between Sept. 29, and more than 160 injured, and a total of 151 2000 and Nov. 1, 2007: 474 days of curfew subsequently imposed with only 65 hours of non-curfew me, during Residents of the city killed in 2002 during Israeli which residents were allowed to a end to invasion: 184 food and health needs and bury the dead.10 Nablus hospital reports of injured between Sept. A erwards, the interna onal community 29, 2000 and Nov. 1 , 2007: 10,371 assessed the cost of repairing resul ng damage to public infrastructure, roads and buildings Nablus governorate has more children and women in Israeli jails than any other region (24 in the Nablus governorate at $114 million and of 118 women and 95 of 340 minors as of May restoring Nablus’ historic old city at $42.5 2007), and the longest-held Pales nian prisoner 11 million. (Sa’id al-Atba’, imprisoned for 31 years) is from Nablus.
Damages from January 2008 Israeli The city’s mayor, Adli Ya’eesh, and deputy mayor, Mahdi Hanbali, are both being held in Israeli Invasion in Nablus City administra ve deten on (deten on without trial). Homes and Commercial buildings: $180,000 Days of curfew in the city between Jan. 1, 2002 Old City: millions of dollars , losses are s ll and June 29, 2007: 312 being assessed Days of closure of the city between Jan. 1, 2002 and Oct. 7, 2007: 255 Informa on from Nablus Chamber of Commerce Sta s cs from Nablus governorate fact sheet
9 Numbers from Nablus governorate report, 2007. See chart for OCHA breakdown. 10 Costs of Conflict, OCHA, p. 8. 11 “Damage to civilian infrastructure and ins tu ons in the West Bank es mated at $US361 million,” Press Release from Local Aid Coordina on Commi ee Co-Chairs, May 15, 2002. The governorate reports that while many repairs have been made, the restora on of historic sites has not been completed due to the added cost and exper se required. Interview with Anan A , Nablus Governorate, November 27, 2007 9 Damages from June 2007 Israeli Invasion in Nablus City The internaƟonal Commercial buildings: EU 308,834 Water infrastructure: EU 118,000 community assessed Electricity infrastructure: EU 158,570 Health expenditures: EU 110,170 the cost of repairing resulƟng damage to Informa on from Nablus Municipality Report public infrastructure, roads and buildings
Damages from February 2007 in the Nablus Israeli Invasion in Nablus City governorate at $114
Homes, commercial buildings, and million and restoring infrastructure: EU 754,647 Nablus’ historic old Informa on from Nablus Chamber of Commerce city at $42.5 million.
Area of Incursion - Nablus Old City 28 February 2007
Map (4): Source: OCHA 10 EÊÄÊî Ä HçÃÄ RÝÊçÙ LÊÝÝÝ
Chart (1): Hours under curfew in Nablus governorate and other West Bank governorates
Hours under curfew in Nablus governrate Hours under curfew in en re WB
Source: OCHA
Chart (2): Pales nian casual es from Israeli a acks in Nablus governorate
Source: Pales nian Red Crescent Society (from 2000 - 2004) & OCHA (from 2005 - 2007)
11 On Feb. 24, 2007, Israeli forces invaded the city for four days, causing damage es mated at EU 754,674.12 More recently, on June 2, 2007, Israeli forces invaded the city and held the old city, a major commercial center, under curfew for 33 hours. An es mated EU 700,00013 was incurred in damages even in this short period. Churches and mosques have been among the buildings damaged in these a acks, according to the municipality.
Pictures from 2002 Israeli incursion
12 Nablus Municipality Report, 2007. 13 Nablus Municipality Report, 2007. When asked why damage es mates for more recent incursions are quite high despite their rela vely short me periods, officials cite the high cost of restoring historic sites in the Old City where the Israeli army o en concen- trates, and new Israeli demoli ons techniques that detonate from the inside out, thereby causing increased damage. 12 EÊÄÊî Ä HçÃÄ RÝÊçÙ LÊÝÝÝ
While the governorate has been able to repair many demolished homes, businesses and other exterior damage, destruc on to furniture, personal belongings and personal vehicles were not compensated. One goldsmith had just purchased millions of dollars in machines. His workshop was en rely destroyed, with no opportunity for compensa on.14 The economic costs for the average ci zen were immense. But curfews, strikes and demoli ons by Israeli military forces con nue even today.
“Nablus has become the capital of poverty, rather than the capital of industry,” says Ac ng Mayor Hafez 15 Shaheen. Black curtains wave from a building with its windows shot out, just across from the Nablus municipality, in Jan. 2008. The Ministry of Na onal Economy has es mated that Nablus city has lost $1.2 million a day since the start of the Pales nian uprising in 2000.16
Table (3): Compara ve snapshots before and a er the second uprising BEFORE AND AFTER: A SNAPSHOT Before the in fada A er the in fada Nablus city’s rate of unemployment 18.2% (1999) 26.3% (2006) (Source: OCHA) Number of checkpoints in the West Bank 12, most in Jerusalem area Over 500 (Source: World Bank) Cost of a box of apples NIS 20-30 NIS 50 (Source: Interview with reseller) (approx. US$ 5 - 7.5) (approx. US$ 12.5) Daily rental of a truck to transport produce NIS 400 NIS 3,000 (Source: Interview with reseller) (approx. US$ 100) (approx. US$ 750) Value of produce sold monthly in Nablus More than NIS 150,000 NIS 2,800 city, as recorded by the ministry17 (Source: Ministry of Agriculture) (approx. US$ 37,500) (approx. US$ 700) Monthly revenues to the Nablus Ministry NIS 1-1.5 million NIS 2,000 of Agriculture from transport and sale of produce (Source: Ministry of Agriculture) (approx. US$ 250 – 375,000) (approx. US$ 500) Pales nian GDP $4,511.7 (1999) $4,150.6 (2006) (Source: PCBS)
14Interview with Anan A ri, Nablus Governorate, November 27, 2007 15November 27, 2007 interview. 16Nablus governorate report, 2007. 17Officials say that post-in fada accoun ng for sales is flawed as the economy has become fragmented. 13 Chart (3): Percentage distribu on of employed manufacturing sector in selected governorates
Source: Pales nian Central Bureau of Sta s cs (PCBS) labor force data for cited years & Costs of Conflict, OCHA, p. 6 These changes are shaping the Pales nian economy as a whole. The World Bank es mates that internal closures accounted for approximately half of the decline in real GDP (perhaps some 15 percent) observed between 2000 and 2002.18 As shown below, the number of Pales nians employed in manufacturing has steadily declined since 1995. Chart (4): Basic changes in labor force indicators in West Bank from 1995 - 2006 (ILO Standards)
35
Unemployment rate 30 Employed in agriculture 25 Employed in construc on 20
Employed in manufacturing 15
Employed in services 10
Elementary occupa on 5 workers
Cra workers 0
Employed in Israel and 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 se lements Source: PCBS
18 An Update on Pales nian Movement, Access and Trade in the West Bank and Gaza, August 2006, World Bank, p. 10 14 EÊÄÊî Ä HçÃÄ RÝÊçÙ LÊÝÝÝ
M®ÝݮĦ 㫠ʽ ùÝ Jamal Shan r, 51, owns an infamous sweets shop in the Nablus old city. In the ‘90s, it was always teeming with customers, many who had traveled from other West Bank locales just to eat the Nablus famous pastry, knafeh. “There is no work [for us] since the day they established the checkpoints,” he says. He closes his doors in the a er- noon because of the deep insecurity that grips the old city – no one visits its alleys a er dark. Shan rs ll runs a decent trade, mak- ing NIS 500-1,000 ($125 - $250) in daily income. But he says these sales are perhaps one percent of the income he used to bring in.
Knafeh, best made in
Nablus, is made fresh and piping hot “
ShanƟrsƟll runs a decent trade, making $125 - $250 in daily income. But he says these sales are perhaps one percent of the income he used to bring in. “ 15 Nablus Security Plan
The Nablus police force has not been able to operate normally in the city since the 2002 invasions. As a result, crime has risen and businesspeople in the city report demands that they pay protec on money to the various armed gangs that have thrived. On November 2, 2007 Pales nian security forces were deployed on the streets of Nablus through a poli cal agreement reached with Israel. These armed forces are visible today and ci zens report a great sense of relief from their presence. However, Israeli troops con nue to enter the city and carry out Pales nian security armed with guns and batons control the city’s main circle military raids; the last one was the January 2008 large-scale, full-on invasion that lasted for three days and resulted in massive losses in residen al and commercial building.
Israeli military vehicles invade Al Saqia street in Nablus city where small businesses were destroyed 16 EÊÄÊî DÄãÙ½®þã®ÊÄ Ä ã« N½çÝ MÙ»ã
EÊÄÊî ã« Ä®¦«ÊٮĦ DÄãÙ½®þã®ÊÄ ò®½½¦Ý ½ÝÊ Ý祥٠These producers and buyers once brought Ä ã« N½çÝ money into the city of Nablus, shopping for their families and conduc ng business MÙ»ã in the city. The Ministry of Agriculture es mates a 90% decline in the number Perhaps the most obvious indicator of of growers purchasing goods in the the decline of Nablus as a commercial city.20 A study by UNSCO in 2005 showed center is the transforma on that has how areas outlying Nablus were being taken place in its central produce market reshaped economically by the closure of on the eastern side of the city. In a trend the city. that observers say only became marked some months a er the April 2002 Israeli Table (4): Change in number of shops in neighboring incursions, producers stopped bringing villages by 2005 their goods to the Nablus market, Community outlying Change in the number preferring instead to sell them in new Nablus City of shops by 2005 produce markets established in Beita Huwara -57 (south of Nablus) , Fara’a (northeast of Deir Sharaf -17 Nablus) and Qaba ya (north of Nablus). Furush Beit Dajan -1 Zeita Jama’in -1 Delays for ge ng sensi ve vegetables and Duma 3 fruits into the city were too risky. Qusra 41 Jaba’ 62 The effects of this have been manifold. ‘Asira Ashamaliya 119 Beita 193 The municipality owns the market, and is Source: OCHA, “Costs of Conflict”, p. 10 now deprived the revenues of its vendors, who have moved elsewhere. Revenues Buyers and homemakers all used to come to Nablus city to get collected from ren ng the market’s booths the best cheeses, pickles and olive oil. Now this downtown store is empty of shoppers have declined from NIS 5.19 million ($1.3 million) in 2000 to NIS 509,290 ($127,323) in 2006.19 The city reports having been forced to shut down several of the market’s industrial refrigerators in order to save money. It has tried to meet with producers to work out how to reac vate the market, but with no success; many stalls remain closed and empty, in part because the vendors are unable to pay outstanding debts to the municipality. The number of people working in the market has declined by 75%, reports the municipality.
19 “Review of the Humanitarian Situa on in the occupied Pales nian territory for 2004”, OCHA, April 2005 & Nablus governorate report, 2007. 20 Interview with Majdi Aqwdi, Nablus Ministry of Agriculture, November 27, 2007. 17 On the micro-level, the ripple Table (5): Number of Israeli permits issued to Nablus merchants effect of this transforma on is 2002 2003 2004 2007 striking. One cheese reseller was Number of registered Approx. 5,154 5,350 5,678 formerly a rela vely wealthy man, merchants 7,000 vaca oning abroad and providing Number of issued 647 870 1,957 1,300 well for his large family. But when permits village cheese producers stopped Source: Nablus Chamber of Commerce & Costs of Conflict, OCHA, p. 16 bringing their products to the city because it was more profitable An addi onal result of the to sell the cheese themselves, decentraliza on of Nablus-area he lost big. (Between 2000 and produce sales has been instability 2002, the annual value of dairy for the consumer. Where once the product imports to Nablus city fell Nablus market set prices for the from $462,200 to $38,620.21 The en re northern West Bank and Ministry of Agriculture says that the Jericho region, currently the combina on of disease that agricultural products are spreads because veterinarians distributed from a number can’t get past Israeli checkpoints in of different areas and me, and spoilage of cheese, milk their prices vary. and yoghurt at the checkpoints has brought about a 40% decline in the en re sector in the oPt.22 ) Forced to choose between feeding his family or paying his debts, this reseller stopped paying his electricity bills. Now he owes the municipality over NIS 4,000 (approximately $1,000). The municipality is currently owed NIS 230,000 ($57,500) and is itself in debt NIS 200,000 ($50,000).23 Between 2000 and 2002, the annual value of dairy product imports to Nablus city fell from $462,200 to $38,620
18 FÊÙ IÄãÙĽ D®ÝÖ½ÃÄã
FÊÙ Guiding Principles on Internal IÄãÙĽ Displacement 1. Every human being shall have the right to be protected against being arbitrarily displaced D®ÝÖ½ÃÄã from his or her home or place of habitual resi- dence. While no definite numbers are available, 2. The prohibi on of arbitrary displacement anecdotal evidence suggests that these includes displacement: strains are taking their toll in the form (a) When it is based on policies of apartheid, “ethnic cleansing” or similar prac ces aimed of forced internal displacement out of at/or resul ng in altering the ethnic, religious or Nablus city. Because jobs are no longer racial composi on of the affected popula on; as available inside the town, workers (b) In situa ons of armed conflict, unless the are leaving to find jobs in other towns, security of the civilians involved or impera ve par cularly Ramallah, which was once a military reasons so demand; 40-minute drive south. Companies are (c) In cases of large-scale development projects, either closing their doors or opening which are not jus fied by compelling and over- riding public interests; branches in Ramallah. These changes (d) In cases of disasters, unless the safety and have been so drama c as to reverse the health of those affected requires their evacua- Nablus governorate’s standing as the on; and main manufacturing center in the West (e) When it is used as a collec ve punishment. Bank, with Ramallah governorate taking 3. Displacement shall last no longer than re- its place. quired by the circumstances.
From the Office of the UN High Commissioner for On November 26, 2007, the UN General Human Rights Assembly empowered UNRWA to assist Pales nians who have been internally displaced. This measure comes alongside heightened concern from interna onal agencies that groups of Pales nians are being newly displaced through Israel’s se lement policy and the construc on of the Apartheid Wall.
Officials in both the Nablus municipality and the governorate express concern that their city is being emp ed of people as a result of Israel’s closure of the city and the resul ng loss of markets, policies that are linked to Israel’s se lement scheme for the Nablus area, the crea on of infrastructure for the use of Jews and not Arabs, and Israel’s collec ve punishment of Nablus residents.
19 “I am a mother of three, and all three are pushing me to leave this place,” says Anan A ri, director general in the Nablus governorate. Her 18-year- old son is already in Jordan, and her 16-year-old “can’t go play, can’t par cipate in ac vi es, can’t travel the checkpoints, but sees the world on the internet. They don’t want luxury, they just want any place that is more safe.”
UN OCHA’s data on house demoli ons is an important, albeit insufficient, indicator of forced displacement as a phenomenon. Over the past two years (since May 2005), OCHA has recorded the demoli on of 15 structures in Nablus city and three of its refugee camps. Thirteen of these structures were residen al and their demoli on resulted in the displacement of 225 people (including 38 children).24
An informal survey carried out in the summer of 2007 by Save the Children Over the past two UK found that Pales nians are moving away from their homes in response years (since May 2005), to home demoli ons, se lement or infrastructure construc on that blocks OCHA has recorded Pales nian building and movement, the demoliƟon of 15 and direct evic ons by Israeli forces, or to escape violence carried out by structures in Nablus city Israeli se lers. These triggers are almost prevalent in areas of Israeli and three of its refugee se lement. The Nablus area was iden fied as one of three areas in the camps. Thirteen of West Bank (alongside southern Hebron these structures were and the Jordan Valley) where internal displacement is underway. Many residenƟal and their Nablus residents are moving further south, the study showed, o en to demoliƟon resulted in other urban areas. the displacement of 225 people (including 38 children). 24 Communica on with OCHA staff, December 2007. “ 20 SãÊÙ®Ý Ê¥ ®ÝÖ½ ÖÊÖ½
SãÊÙ®Ý Ê¥ ®ÝÖ½ ÖÊÖ½ One 34-year-old engineer from a Nablus family has recently decided to move his wife and young son to Ramallah. He has been employed in a Ramallah- based company since 1998, first living in the town and then commu ng daily since his wedding four years ago to a young woman from Nablus. Some mes he has been forced to sleep on a cot in his office when checkpoints are closed or there is a curfew in effect. The engineer reports spending 2-2.5 hours traveling from Nablus to Ramallah daily, and another 1-1.25 hours returning in the a ernoon. The reason for his recent decision to move, however, is financial. He can no longer afford the NIS 800 ($200) he must spend on transporta on every month on his management-level salary of NIS 3,500 ($875). When he moves, he will sell the apartment he now owns in Nablus in order to afford housing in Ramallah. He is also looking for work for his wife in Ramallah to help pay for the higher cost of living. He doesn’t think it would be possible to find employment in Nablus.
21 “The opportuni es in the city and then carry it back Ramallah were more than to the village?” those in Nablus, even before the in fada,” says another While many smaller Nablus 34-year-old engineer from businesses have moved Nablus. “Once the Pales nian their investments outside of Authority came back to the the city, some of the city’s Pales nian territories, all of the most important commercial ministries were established in enterprises have also quietly Ramallah and companies built moved their resources to there in order to be close to Ramallah. them. Investment in Ramallah was much greater than that in “Nablus is not the city Nablus.” that we once knew, He found work in Ramallah in where people came from his field and commuted back Ramallah, Jerusalem and forth. But with the start and even from inside of the in fada in September Israel to visit.” 2000, “life became very hard.” He rented a flat in Ramallah – Na ve Nablus businessman who with other friends from Nablus has moved his center of life to and started returning home Ramallah every two weeks, and then every several months, because one trip one way could take The city of Nablus recently as long as eight hours. Several established several job crea on years ago, he was given the programs to try to stem the de investment opportunity of people leaving the city. If the of buying an apartment in problem remains unaddressed, Ramallah (he wasn’t thinking however, experience shows that of living in it). Later, when he the long-term consequences of became engaged to a Ramallah internal displacement are: food na ve, they decided to furnish insecurity, reduced agricultural the apartment and start a life produc on, increased in the town where he works. dependence upon aid imports, heightened poverty, inadequate He says he can name 12-15 living condi ons, loss of companies that have closed industry and local economies, a their offices in Nablus, or shi to small-scale subsistence, downsized and opened and an increase in threatened new branches in Ramallah. popula ons and urbaniza on. “Investors have started to From a poli cal perspec ve, the move from Nablus to other decline and emptying of Nablus places, not only Ramallah but city means the strengthening the villages around Nablus,” and legi miza on of Israel’s he says. “The city’s economy illegal se lement of the doesn’t only depend on its northern occupied West Bank residents, but on the villagers. and further cantoniza on of Why buy a kilo of potatoes in Pales nian land.
22 From a poliƟcal perspecƟve, the decline and emptying of Nablus city means the strengthening and legiƟmizaƟon of Israel’s illegal seƩlement of the northern occupied West Bank and further cantonizaƟon of PalesƟnian land.
23 Sources
Labor Force Survey, October- December, Q3 2007, Pales nian Central Bureau of Sta s cs
“Beit Iba checkpoint re-expanded and for fied despite Israeli words of ‘peace’ and closure-li ing, August 16, 2007, ARIJ
Quarterly Economic and Social Monitor, July 2007, Pales nian Central Bureau of Sta s cs
The Humanitarian Impact on Pales nians of Israeli Se lements and Other Infrastructure in the West Bank, July 2007, OCHA
OCHA Situa on Report Nablus, February 2007
Peace Now, Se lement List - 2007
An Update on Pales nian Movement, Access and Trade in the West Bank and Gaza, August 2006, World Bank
Costs of Conflict, “Nablus a er Five Years of Conflict”, December 2005, OCHA
Nablus – Bio Data, OCHA, November 2004
The Impact of Closure and Other Mobility Restric ons on Pales nian Pro- duc ve Ac vi es, January 1, 2002 - June 30, 2002, UNSCO
Picture credit: MA’AN, Nablus Governorate, and Ala’ Badarneh
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